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Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
-Written: 12.26.25
-Source: Peacock
-Run Time: 1:49:31
-The rush through 1994 continues and I don’t know if I am going to make it through all of them, but I will give it the college try. Next up will be Fall Brawl. Away we go!
-Announce Team: Tony Schiavone and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
-Aug. 24, 1994
-Five Seasons Center, Cedar Rapids, IA
-Attendance: 4200
-We get a warning noting this is presented in the most complete form possible and the show starts as The Nasty Boys are making their entrance.
Pretty Wonderful vs. The Nasty Boys
-The soon to be named Black Top Bully is in the front row yelling at the wrestlers as they make their entrance. Tony calls him an irate fan. This is non title as The Nasty Boys are just looking to earn a Title Match. We take a break before the opening bell.
-Peacock commercials!
-I guess we got a bell at some point as we come back with Randy Anderson laying a count on Pretty Wonderful as they stall on the floor. Knobbs and Wonderful start and Knobbs runs him into the corner. Double shoulder tackle by the Nasty Boys and Knobbs decks Roma. They pull him into the ring and hit him with a double shoulder block. Wonderful back in and he gets knocked down with a right hand. Sags and Roma in as Bobby notes how dangerous The Nasty Boys would be with a manager, but they are loners. Well, Jimmy Hart and Missy would say otherwise. Roma tries to come off the ropes, but gets caught and dropped with a World’s Strongest Slam. Tony goes on a rant about how WCW is the first interactive wrestling company and other organizations are trying to copy then. Heenan hits the catchphrase as he says “wrestling is cool.” They were pushing that hard at the time and funny The Rock brought it back decades later. Sags gets caught on the floor with a clothesline from Wonderful and gets pitched into the crowd and then into the stairs. Sags sells his eye after being tossed into the stairs and perhaps Vince saw this show many years later and figured that was a good idea for an Extreme Rules Match. Back in the ring finally and Wonderful drops a forearm before hooking a reverse chinlock. Heenan mentions he has a bad neck because of Hulk Hogan and we can see him wearing a neck brace at ringside. I assume he had surgery around this time, which led to the infamous interaction with Pillman a few years later. Sags goes to the eyes on Roma, but doesn’t tag out and gets hit with a knee in the back from Wonderful on the apron. He drops an elbow to the groin as the ref gets Knobbs out of the ring. Two count which has Roma annoyed. Wonderful back in but gets a whip reversed and Sags knocks him down. Roma with the tag and hits a dropkick. He celebrates before getting a two count. Back to Wonderful and he calls for The Piledriver! Sags backdrops his way out and hot tag is made to Knobbs. He runs wild with right hands and clotheslines. Everyone in the ring as they pair off. Wonderful with a suplex as Roma comes off with a splash, but Sags comes off with an elbow and illegally covers Wonderful for the pin as Knobbs held Roma back at 9:33.
Winner: The Nasty Boys via pin at 9:33
-Not a fan of the ending as Sags was not legal, but whatever I guess. Crowd was into it, but there wasn’t much here. Just a standard tag match with a weird ending. *1/2
-Hulk Hogan hotline commercial! I believe Hogan got every penny from that.
-Peacock commercials!
-Mean Gene brings out Hulk Hogan and a masked man runs out and clubs him in the knee with a pipe. Hogan screams that his knee exploded and Gene makes sure to yell, “look at that knee.” EMTs are out and they are putting on a brace as Gene tells us this is the most horrific thing he has ever seen. Some in the crowd are booing as a stretcher is wheeled out for Hogan. The rest of the crowd drowns out the boos with a “Hogan” chant. Eric Bischoff is out to check on Hogan as well, which seems weird but many knew he was the run running the show at this point.
-Peacock commercials!
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship: “Stunning” Steve Austin vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
-This is a rematch from Bash at The Beach and the DQ rule has been waived. We get a split screen as we see Hogan get loaded into an ambulance. Bischoff takes the ride with him as that’s his meal ticket. Austin complains about a hair pull and the ref checks with Dragon. I wouldn’t doubt it because Dragon has been a dick for years. Heenan is confused by the stip as he thinks it’s no DQ and Tony has to explain that Austin loses the title if he is disqualified. Heenan and Tony talk to a producer to get information on what he saw. He tells Heenan that there is a chance Hogan’s career might be over. Dragon with a double chop but sets too early and Austin punts him. He misses a dropkick and Dragon hits a dropkick and another. Chop in the corner but he runs into an elbow. Austin charges into a powerslam for two. Split screen again as we see the ambulance make it’s way through the town. Heenan thinks they should just take him to the edge of the town and dump him. He doesn’t care if Hogan ever walks again. Dragon with a roll-up for two then counters an Austin roll-up into a sunset flip for two. Dragon with an armdrag into an armbar and he yells at the fan (Blacktop Bully). Austin escapes and tries a chinlock, but Dragon counters back into an armbar. Austin escapes and sends Dragon to the floor, but Dragon pulls him out and fires away with chops. Austin tries to run away, but Dragon goes the other way and they meet with Dragon delivering a chop. Back in the ring Dragon with a sleeper, but Austin counters with a jawbreaker. With a tweak that could be a strong finisher for Austin. Just saying! Tony notes that Sting is in Chicago for a charity event, but has seen what’s happened and is boarding a jet to get here and he will fight for Hogan if needed. Dragon drops Austin’s arm on the top rope and comes off the top with a chop to the head. Austin back with chops and he mocks Dragon. He drops a knee for a two count and hooks a reverse chinlock. Dragon elbow his way out and gets a shoulder tackle. Austin escapes a suplex, but eats a chop. Dragon with a splash, but Austin gets the knees up to block. He comes off the middle ropes and drops a forearm for a two count and that looked like Stone Cold as he was close to giving Dragon the middle finger before hitting the move. Cool! We get a weird cut to the entrance way and nobody is there. Sloppy! Austin head butts Steamboat off the ropes, but Dragon is back and knocks Austin off balance so he falls on his little stunners. Dragon up, but Austin blocks a superplex and gets a gourdbuster. Austin off the top, but Dragon catches him on the way down. He lands a face buster as the crowd starts a “Steamboat” chant. He heads up again, but Austin moves and pushes Dragon face first into the mat. Austin talks some trash and slaps Dragon on the back of the head. Another slap and another slap. Dragon is a little annoyed so Austin pushes him in the face. Dragon with a double leg and he goes ground and pound. Double Chop and another and another gets two. Spinebuster gets two! Austin tries to run up the ropes and Dragon brings him down with an Electric Chair for two. Small package for two. Jackknife cover for two! Backslide for two! Sunset flip for two! Austin with a clothesline to cut off that run. Backdrop, but Dragon skins the cat and gets a roll-up for two. Heenan notes Dragon could have hit the floor there and would have won the title by DQ. Small package as Austin is out of answers and Dragon gets the pin at 16:05. I believe that bump where Dragon skinned the cat, injured his back and ended his career. Much like Shawn with the casket against Taker, it’s what seems to be a simple bump that causes the damage.
Winner and New United States Heavyweight Champion: Ricky Steamboat via pin at 16:05
-That ending was fantastic as Austin was desperate to get away and Dragon just kept coming and going for pin after pin until Austin couldn’t kick out. I liked this one a little more than the first match because it had a better ending. Great stuff! ****
-Hogan gets wheeled into the hospital and Brutus is there with him. Eric tries to give an update, but just goes in to get answers. Heenan smiling as they go back to the arena is pretty awesome as it’s perfect for his character.
-The Honky Tonk Man is coming to WCW and we get a music video for him. I remember this, but don’t remember a single match he had. I assume Jimmy Hart wrote this song and it’s very much a rip-off of his WWF theme.
-Gene is with Commissioner Bockwinkel and they don’t know enough to make a statement. He does say if Hogan can’t step into the ring tonight, he will have to forfeit the Title to Ric Flair. The crowd boos!
-Peacock commercials!
-We go back to Saturday Night and get the AMAZING Dusty Rhodes promo where he tells Dustin he neglected him through various points in his life. He neglected him when he needed a partner. Dusty just crushes here as we get the famous “view never changes line.” Oh man, this is the good stuff. Dusty asks a favor in front of God and the world. He doesn’t want Dustin to find another partner. He wants to be his partner and you can see the tears in Dustin’s eyes and the crowd is just going crazy. If you can watch this without being moved in some way, you aren’t human. “What I need from you is a hug and kiss to seal the deal, baby.” I miss my step-dad! Love you Jeff!
Terry Funk and Bunkhouse Buck (w/ Colonel Parker and Meng) vs. Dustin Rhodes and Dusty Rhodes
-Dusty being announced as “The Charismatic Dusty Rhodes,” is kind of funny as I assume Dusty came up with that intro himself. All four men start brawling immediately and the crowd is jacked! We start proper with Dustin and Buck and Dustin steps on his face. Big boot to the head and he yells at Buck. Funk whispers to Buck and they trap Dustin in the corner. CLUBBERING! Bucks accidentally decks Funk and a clothesline sends Buck to the floor. Atomic Drop on Funk and one on Buck, which sends him into Funk, who takes a Terry Funk bump. Tag to Dusty and the crowd is losing their shit! ELBOW to Buck and he sells it hilariously as he falls back. Dusty wants some of Funk, but no tag yet. Buck goes to the eyes but Dustin block a whip to the corner. Dusty with elbows for Buck and Terry. Double elbow and he runs them into each other. This is great as Buck and Funk are just bumping all over the place and the crowd is roaring! Dustin back in with a powerslam for two, but Funk makes the save. Buck decks Dustin with his boot to the back of the head. Funk tries a DDT, but Dustin blocks, I think. That seemed a bit off there. Terry with head-butts and we get a tag to Dusty, but Buck had the ref. Buck off the top with his boot, but Dustin avoids and Funk takes the boot to the head. Hot tag to Dustin and he runs Funk and Buck into each other. Here’s Arn Anderson and he runs Dustin into a ring post. Heenan: “How come nobody likes The Rhodes Family?” Buck takes over on Dusty and hits a running boot, but tag back to Dustin. He runs wild and hits a lariat on Funk. Another one on Buck! Tony notes it doesn’t matter who the legal man is and I agree. Just let them go! Arn in for the DQ at 7:23 and he plants Dustin with a DDT.
Winners: The Rhodes Family via DQ at 7:23
-This was fun but the whole point was the angle after the match and continuing the story. **1/2
-Dustin with an elbow to Arn and Meng is in the ring, showing off the guns! Dusty backs off and finds a wood chair. He breaks it over Meng’s head and he just stares at him. Heenan: “Run for your life.” No kidding! Tongan Death Grip on Dusty as Funk and Buck beat the piss out of Dustin. Frankie Lancaster in and Meng beats him up and goes back to the Death Grip. Officials run in and get Meng off, but Buck lands a few more shots before we head to break.
-Peacock commercials!
-Eric is still outside the hospital and talks to Hulk Hogan’s attorney, Henry Holmes. Hogan is in x-ray at the moment and is in a great deal of pain. He has told Hogan to decline to wrestle tonight. Holmes kind of outs Eric as one of the powers to be in WCW. He notes Hogan seems determined to wrestle. Brutus says Hogan will do what he wants to do. At this point the rumors were the mystery man was supposed to be Mr. Perfect, so Brutus being there wasn’t foreshadowing anything.
-Gene brings out Ric Flair and Sherri. He runs down the crowd to make sure he gets booed tonight. He wants Hogan to hand him The World Title. Sherri is dressed for a funeral and says she came here to dance on Hogan’s grave. Now, I’m sad again!
-Peacock commercials!
-Gene tells the crowd and Tony, Bobby that Hogan is on his way back to the arena. Apparently, Hogan is walking back to the arena.
-Hey, there’s Mike Tenay backstage with The Stud Stable on the WCW Hotline.
Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) vs. Antonio Inoki
-Regal attacks before the bell and stomps Inoki out of the ring. Tony goes over the history of Inoki and Heenan corrects him on the pronunciation of Rikidozan. This is part of Inoki’s final countdown before he goes into politics. Maybe that’s next for Cena! Regal with forearms and uppercuts as he fights for a headlock. Inoki keeps shooting in for a double leg and nothing doing. Regal lands a head-butt and throws kicks to the chest. He grinds his forearm on Inoki’s face but no count as Inoki is in the ropes. Regal continues to fire away with kicks and goes for an armbar, but Inoki gets to the ropes. More knees from Regal. Inoki tries a rolling heel kick but misses so Regal just dives on him. This is kind of bizarre as they are working a type of MMA style and the crowd doesn’t know what to do with it. Regal grabs the leg as we see Hogan hobbling into his dressing room, which pops the crowd. Regal continues to throw kicks as Inoki is just getting mauled here. He hooks a choke out of nowhere and gets a one count. Bockwinkel is on his way down and Heenan gets in a funny like: “if you ask this guy the time, he will tell you how to build a watch.” Regal with side control and he throws palm strikes. Nick says they advised Hogan not to wrestle, but he wants to do it. WCW won’t be held responsible, but the match will still be for the World Title. Logic says this sets up Flair winning the World Title, but well, we will see. Inoki fights back, but gets kicked in the head from the mat. Regal with a choke and transitions into a butterfly suplex for two. Inoki ducks a forearm and chokes Regal out at 8:40.
Winner: Antonio Inoki via submission at 8:40
-This was very weird as it was Regal just beating the crap out of Inoki for 8 minutes and getting caught with a choke. It was like a weird worked shoot fight and was fascinating to watch even if the crowd wasn’t into it. Not really a wrestling match, but it’s worth a watch. *
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Hulk Hogan (c) (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. Ric Flair (w/ Sherri)
-Flair wants Hogan to hand the Belt over, but we know that’s not happening. Hogan attacks before the bell and pounds away with right hands as he pulls Flair’s robe over his head like a hockey fight. Flair rakes the eyes and throws a chop, but Hogan rips the shirt off to pop the crowd. Hogan chokes Flair in the corner and stuffs his bandana in Flair’s mouth. Hogan bites at Flair’s head as this is Hollywood Hogan 2 years early. Flair to the floor and he pulls Hogan out. Chop and again, it does nothing. Flair gets run into the ring post as this has been a heck of a start so far. Flair gets run into the railing and Hogan steps on his face. Hogan’s knee is wrapped as he hobbles around the ring while Flair begs off in the corner. Flair lands a thumb to the eyes and heads up top, which is pretty dumb. Hogan slams him off and Heenan questions why Flair won’t go to the knee. No kidding! Right hands sends Flair over the top and he lands on the steps and rolls to the floor. They brawl in the aisle as Hogan is just out for blood here and it makes sense for him to be this aggressive and angry as in his mind, Flair had something to with the attack. Hogan chant from the crowd! Head-butt which hurts Hogan as well. Flair goes head first into the post and Hogan tries to use a chair, but Flair runs back into the ring. Flair catches him on the way in and shows off the power with a delayed vertical suplex. Hogan is up first though and runs Flair over with a clothesline. Hogan drops a series of elbows and then steps on Flair’s face. Whip to the corner and Flair flips over to the apron where Hogan runs him down with a clothesline. Flair begs off as Hogan meets him out there. Hogan bites Flair’s hand and runs him into the railing. This has been all Hogan! Flair finally dives at the knee and you can see the smattering of Flair fans in the crowd start cheering. “Hogan” chant from the rest of the crowd. Sherri in and she lands a shot to the groin. Flair drops all his weight on the knee and then some knee on knee action. Figure-Four, but Hogan kicks away. Flair goes right back to the knee with a chop block. He stomps away on the knee as the bandage starts to unravel. Another Hogan chant but Flair stays on the knee. Figure-Four is locked and gets a pop. Tony notes the pressure is on the straight leg and not the bad knee. Heenan: “Use a figure eight then.” Hogan Hulks Up in the hold and powers his way out before taking Flair’s eyes. Flair back to the knee and Hogan starts to Hulk-Up again! Right hands from Hogan and The Big Boot, but Hogan makes sure to fall down to sell the knee. He drops the leg and that hurts him as well. He tries to stand, but the knee buckles. Flair goes right back to the Figure Four as Hogan yells out for help. Heenan: “Scream you miserable slob.” Hogan fights off the pain again and rolls over to reverse the pressure. Sherri uses her high heel to hit Hogan in the knee and he falls to the floor where he gets counted out at 14:26.
Winner: Ric Flair via count-out at 14:26
-Different match than the one last month as this was more of a fight. The first match had an actual finish so it gets the nod, but the body of this match was probably better. As noted, Flair winning the title here probably made the most sense as Hogan was on one knee and it would have set up the rubber match at Havoc better. Fun match though! ***1/2
-Buffer mistakenly announces Flair as the New World Champion which Tony and Bobby have to correct. Buffer screws up again as he says the belt can’t change hands on a DQ. Heenan: “Do I have to do everyone’s job here.”
-The Masked Man is down and he goes right after the knee and you can tell by the way he lands his kicks and stomps that it’s Arn Anderson.
-Flair off the top with a splash and puts on the figure-four as Sherri kicks at Hogan. Sting is out and makes the save while Flair leaves with The World Title. This Is just chaos!
-Tony and Bobby wrap things up as we see Hogan getting loaded into the ambulance for a second time so he can get looked at again.
-Thanks for reading!
